(Left to Right) -Chaplain (Brigadier General) Ned R. Graves, Deputy Chief of Army Chaplains, Dr. Edward L. tR. Elson, Minister of National Presbyterian Church and Chaplain of the U. S. Senate, and Ch (COL) Steve P. Gaskins, Jr., USA, Retired, President of the D. C. Chapter of MCA, honor Dr. Elson at a meeting on 20 March in the Nation's Capital.
ELSON HONORED BY CHAPLAINS The views he expressed about the chaplaincy, his evident On 20 March, the meeting of the District of Columbia insights to its deepest meaning and role, and the interesting anecdotes he related from his own experiences when on
Chapter of the MCA was devoted to honoring one of its acte e eht o s ow rens h active duty, gave testimony as to why Dr. Elson's chapown, Dr. Edward L. R. Elson, newly-appointed Chaplain laincy was as outstanding as has been his ministry at of the United States Senate. Some sixty chaplains and National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D. C., and National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D. C., and
guests, including line officers, active duty and retired, who why he was appointed in January of this year as the Chaphave known Dr. Elson, and other friends, met at luncheon lain of the U. S. Senate, the first military chaplain to be at the Officers' Club, Arlington Hall Station. It was a ohe.
so honored.
warm, friendly, relaxed occasion.
On behalf of Chaplain Sampson, Chief of Army Chap- Dr. Elson made it clear that from the time he had gone lains, the Deputy, Chaplain Ned R. Graves, presented Dr. into the chaplaincy in 1930, he had affiliated with The MiliElson with a Certificate of Appreciation from the Depart- tary Chaplains Association. In the 39 years since, he has ment of the Army. In addition, D. C. Chapter President served the MCA in many ways, including a termr as PresiSteve Gaskins read and presented a citation to Dr. Elson dent. He thinks the MCA is uniquely important as the from the Chapter and on behalf of the MCA. professional association for military clergy, that its "recent
Accepting the awards, as well as the plaudits of the conventions have been unsurpassed by other similar con, audience and his many close friends therein, Dr. Elson vocations for clergymen," that "most of the time there has responded following his being presented by Dr. Roy Smith, been a meaningful program markedly improved in recent president of The Military Chaplains Association. His talk, years," and that "if we continue to keep our conferences though informal and extemporaneous, was of high interest. and publication rich in content and skillful in leadership,
He told how he had entered the Army chaplaincy at an the future will be viable and vital."
early date, 1930. Having served in many important posts The Military Chaplains Association salutes our colleague, and capacities, he said he retired in 1961. Dr. Elson, and is happy for his honors.
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